EXAIR has designed a new nozzle called the Super Air Scraper. This nozzle combines a scraping blade with our 2” Flat Super Air Nozzle. It creates a mechanical force with a compressed air force to remove stubborn sticky material. This patent-pending nozzle can be added to the EXAIR Soft Grip Air Gun to create a powerful scraping tool.

Let’s breakdown the nozzle. The 2″ Super Air Scraper nozzle is a model 1144 which has a ¼” NPT female connection. The model 1144-A includes a ¾ – 32 UN adaptor for connecting to the Soft Grip Safety Air Gun extensions. The scraper can be changed when worn with a replacement blade; model 902007. To add flexibility to the Super Air Scraper, a shim set, model 1132SS, can be used to modify the blowing force. With these combinations, the nozzle complements the scraper as an effective way to clean with compressed air.

Soft Grip Super Air Scraper

To get pressurized air to the nozzle, EXAIR attached the 1144-A Super Air Scraper nozzle to the Soft Grip Safety Air Gun. This gives a comfortable and ergonomic way to use and operate this product. We offer different extensions for hard-to-reach applications ranging from 6” (152mm) to 72” (1,829mm) in length. With the extensions that are 36” (914mm) and longer, EXAIR installed an additional foam grip sleeve. This gives additional leverage for scraping material at a distance like floor level. Chip Shields are also offered to prevent blow-back onto the operator. You can view the details of the new product at this link on our website: Soft Grip Super Air Scraper.

To give some ideas for applications, the Soft Grip Super Air Scraper can be used for removing tape, gasket material, caulk, adhesive, paint, labels, and more. With the addition of air, the detached material is blown away during scraping, keeping the area clean to target the remaining “stuck” material. If gummy or flaky substances are a nuisance for workers, the Soft Grip Super Air Scraper can keep the machine or work station clean and operational.

Just like all cataloged items for EXAIR, we stock these parts for same day shipment with orders placed before 3 p.m. EST. We offer a 30-day unconditional guarantee to allow you to see how great this product can work in your application. If you have a sticky, flakey, or greasy substance that needs to be removed, the Soft Grip Safety Air Scraper is up to the challenge. If you have any questions about the product or your “gummy” situation, you can contact an Application Engineer for help.

One of the easiest ways to find out if your compressed air guns are safe for operation is by looking at the nozzle. First, take your current compressed air gun and disconnect it from the compressed air line. Second, look directly into the end of the nozzle where the air comes out. If you can see the inside of the nozzle, then your air gun or blow-off device is unsafe. Nine out of ten compressed air guns are considered to be dangerous. In this blog, I will go through the dangers and violations of compressed air guns and nozzles that are very common in the market place.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, is an organization that enforces standards for safe and healthy working environments. They have training, outreach programs, and educational assistance for manufacturing plant. But, they will also enforce these standards with heavy fines for violations. The two most common violations with compressed air guns and nozzles are 29CFR 1910.242(b) for dead-end pressure/chip shielding and 29CFR 1910.65(a) for maximum allowable noise exposure. If you are unfortunate in receiving an audit, the OSHA agent will target your compressed air guns and blow-off devices.

Unsafe Nozzle

Here is the first example of a nozzle that I would like to discuss. As you can see, there is only one opening where the air can come out from the nozzle. Other types of nozzles that would fall into this category will include copper pipes, extensions, or worn nozzles. They are dangerous as the compressed air cannot escape if it is blocked by your skin. An air embolism could occur within the body which can cause bodily harm or death. If operated above 30 PSIG (2 bar), these nozzles would violate the OSHA 29CFR 1910.242(b) for dead-end pressure. This is a hazard which can be avoided by using EXAIR Super Air Nozzles and Safety Air Guns. The nozzles are designed to utilize fins to allow air to escape and not penetrate your skin. With EXAIR products, you will not violate this standard even if you go above the 30 PSIG (2 bar).

Safety Air Gun

To counteract the dead-end pressure violation, some nozzle manufacturers created a hole through the side of the nozzle (Reference photo below). This will allow for the compressed air to escape, but, now the issue is noise level. With an “open” section in the nozzle, the compressed air is very turbulent and very loud. They state that 70% to 80% of all hearing loss within a manufacturing plant is caused by compressed air. For this, OSHA 29CFR 1910.65(a) was created to show the maximum allowable noise exposure. This chart shows the time and noise limits before requiring hearing protection. The EXAIR Super Air Nozzles are designed to have laminar flow which is very quiet. With our typical Safety Air Gun, model 1210, the sound level is only 74 dBA; well under the noise exposure limit for 8 hours.

Unsafe Air GunHearing loss is the best known, but not the only, ill effect of harmful noise exposure. It can also cause physical and psychological stress, impair concentration, and contribute to workplace accidents or injuries.

Why do I bring these points up? Because safety is everyone’s responsibility. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, has an overview of how to handle hazards in the workplace. They call it the Hierarchy of Controls (click). This is a means to best protect workers from dangers. The most effective way is by eliminating the hazard or substituting the hazard. The least effective way is with Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE. For your unsafe compressed air nozzles and guns, EXAIR can help by substituting the hazardous air gun and nozzle with an engineered solution designed with safety in mind.

In my opening statement, I explained a quick and easy method to determine if your compressed air guns are dangerous. To keep your company compliant and safe, EXAIR offers a variety of different types of nozzles and Safety Air Guns to best fit your requirement. If you find that you are using hazardous blowing equipment, you can contact an Application Engineer to find a safe and effective alternative.

EXAIR’s highly engineered and efficient Back Blow Nozzle’s provide a powerful 360° airflow through an array of holes to remove coolant, chips or debris. Back Blow Nozzle’s are the perfect solution for cleaning out the inside of any pipe, tube, hose or channels.

Over the last several weeks, you may have read blog posts regarding the EXAIR Safety Air Guns. You can find the blogs here, here and here. We are also in the midst of a Safety Air Gun Promotion, please click HERE for more details on how you can get a free 1″ Flat Super Air Nozzle. Today, I want to review a few available options for the Safety Air Guns.

Protect Workers From Flying Debris! – Chip Shields are durable polycarbonate shields that protect the operator from flying debris often seen when blowing off chips from machined parts. They are also useful to prevent coolant from splashing back, creating a mess during drying processes.

Chip Shields

The Chip Shields are available for EXAIR’s VariBlast, Soft Grip, and Heavy Duty Safety Air Guns. The Chip Shield can be used on Safety Air Guns with or without an aluminum extension. They may be purchased as part of a new air gun system, or retrofitted as a Chip Shield Kit. Consult an Application Engineer for selection assistance.

If you have a blow-off process where the air is to be directed at a distance away from the operator, or into a hard to reach location an extension is the solution. Available in lengths from 6″ (152mm) to 72″ (1829mm), with sizes as shown below, a length to meet most any requirement can be found. To add an extension to an air gun, simply add -xx to the current part number.

Aluminum Extensions, Available in Sizes of 6″ (152mm) up to 72″ (1829mm)Model 1210-6-CS, a model 1210 Soft Grip Safety Air Gun, with 6″ Extension and Chip Shield

And, if you need a 12′ coiled air hose, to use with your Safety Air Gun, we have them available and in stock. Available with 1/8 NPT, 1/4 NPT or 3/8 NPT male end swivel connections. Avoid tangled and messy air lines and keep things neat!

EXAIR’s Soft Grip Safety Air Gun is the ideal choice for long hours of continuous use without fatigue. Its ergonomic design keeps the hand in a comfortable position and incorporates a large trigger that allows operation with one or more fingers. The durable cast aluminum body is suited for rugged industrial use and includes a convenient hangar hook for easy storage. The Soft Grip Safety Air Gun can be ordered with a large variety of different Air Nozzles which range from light to heavy force and can handle most applications. For the ultimate in comfort and operator safety order the Chip Shield which deflects debris away from the operator.

EXAIR Chip Shields are made to fit extension tubes from 3/16″ to 3/4″ O.D.

Aluminum extension pipes are also available in lengths of 6″, 12″, 18″, 24″, 36″, 48″, 60″ and 72″ which allows you to easily customize it for your application(s).

With EXAIR’sSoft Grip Safety Air Gun, you can still achieve the high forces required for tough applications without the risk of injuries to personnel (it’ll handle the light duty stuff too). It will also keep you safe from any fines associated with an unannounced OSHA visit because it meets OSHA standards for dead-end pressure and noise exposure. Do yourselves and your operators a favor and order them today!

EXAIR’s Heavy Duty Safety Air Gun is designed to provide powerful blasts of compressed air for use in rugged, industrial environments. With a larger 3/8 NPT air inlet compared to our other Safety Air Guns, it allows for higher force and flow values. It comes with a durable cast aluminum body and ergonomic composite rubber grip. The wide curved trigger allows for continuous use for hours without operator’s experiencing fatigue.

Model 1330SS-6-CS

All of EXAIR’s Safety Air Guns come with an engineered compressed air nozzle at the tip. This allows you to remain OSHA compliant while still getting the force you need to get the job done. EXAIR’s Super Air Nozzles utilize the coanda effect to entrain large amounts of ambient air from the environment. This ambient air mixes with the primary airstream and is projected towards the target with more force and flow than the supplied compressed air could deliver alone.

Each of the Safety Air Guns is available with extensions fully assembled ranging from 6”-72”. You can simply add a “-“ and the required length, in inches, to the end of any Safety Air Gun Model number.

In addition, they’re also available with a Chip Shield to prevent any chips or debris from coming back into the faces of your operators. Effective chip guarding is another component of OSHA 1910.242(b) in addition to the concerns of dead-end pressure. To add a Chip Shield onto the gun as well, a “-CS” to the standard Model number. For example, a Model 1310-12-CS would be a 1310 gun with 12” extension and a Chip Shield installed. If the application involves blowing off metal chips or shavings, your operators will certainly appreciate this Chip Shield preventing the debris from blowing back all over them.

Easily add both an extension and Chip Shield to your Safety Air Gun!

With EXAIR’s Heavy Duty Safety Air Gun, you can still achieve the high forces required for tough applications without the risk of injuries to personnel. It’ll also keep you safe from any fines associated with an unannounced OSHA visit. Do yourselves and your operators a favor and get one on order today!

Have you ever happened across something that would have been a real “game changer” at some time in the past? I’ll never forget the time that I went camping with my sons’ Boy Scout Troop, and I was introduced to the peanut butter and bacon sandwich. I still enjoy one from time to time, but my doctor does not enjoy hearing about it…

I’ve also written before (and before) about when I found out EXAIR Vortex Tubes were being used in some shipyards for freeze sealing pipes…a task that (when I worked in a shipyard) we used tanks of liquid nitrogen for. I was amazed that such a cumbersome ordeal was replaced by something so simple and easy.

When we were developing the VariBlast Compact Safety Air Gun, a key feature…the variable flow trigger…also would have been real handy at a time in my not-so-distant past. See, I used to run a small industrial equipment service department, and one time I found myself in a pinch to get a structural steel tube frame made for a support for a particular piece of equipment. This wasn’t something we did all the time, and this particular job was a bit larger scale than most of what we’d done before. It wasn’t really a big deal; I just had to cut some rectangular tubing to length with our band saw, drill some small holes (for bolts) and bore some larger holes (for cables & hose) along the length.

We had a small air compressor and a cheap commercial grade air gun, which served the purpose of our infrequent usage. Blowing the shavings away from those holes, and the inside of the tubing was a challenge…that air gun would just barely move them all the way from the holes near the middle, and when I blew out the holes near the ends, the spray of coolant-soaked shavings was making a heck of a mess in our relatively small shop. After a while, I found that I could kind of “mash” the trigger a little to one side and get a rough measure of control…I was only going to have to mop about half the floor, instead of the whole thing, and I wasn’t going to have to wash the service truck parked in the closest garage bay to the shop area.

Needless to say, this wasn’t exactly ergonomic, and it was real pain (literally) to use my left hand for a few days following. Which, being left-handed, was kind of a drag.

Fast forward to just last year, when we rolled out the latest and greatest (in a distinguished line of latest and greatest) EXAIR product: the VariBlast Compact Safety Air Gun. Now, individually, the key features might not be all that mind-blowing to the casual observer, but taken together, they’re a pretty big deal. Consider:

*Variable pull trigger – as the name implies, you can “vary the blast” by how hard (or not) you pull the trigger. Like I said before, you can do this – kind of – with a run of the mill commercial grade air gun, but it’s not very precise, and far from ergonomic. Here’s a short video showing just how sensitive that trigger pull is:

If you’d like to give one a try, EXAIR offers these – and any catalog product for that matter – with a 30 Day Unconditional Guarantee. We invite you to put it through its paces for up to a month. If it’s not going to work out for you, for any reason, we’ll arrange return for full credit. Give me a call – we can talk about how you intend to use it, and which one’s right for you.

Russ Bowman
Application Engineer
EXAIR Corporation
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